If you have ancestral roots in Italy, the road to citizenship may be easier than you think. Italy is among the preferred immigration destinations for Americans because it offers myriad citizenship options. Citizenship by descent is popular because a significant chunk of the American population traces its roots in the country. But getting in through this route requires a thorough understanding of the Jure Sanguinis process. If you want to get your facts, here you can read everything about the process in detail. Let us explain some steps to help you open the road to Italian citizenship by descent.
Check your eligibility
Before applying for the process, you need to understand its eligibility criteria. You qualify automatically if either or both of your parents are Italian citizens. Even adopted individuals are eligible for Jure Sanguinis, provided they were minors at adoption. You may also claim through distant generations, provided your ancestor was alive and an Italian citizen after its formation in 1861. Another condition you have to fulfill is that they shouldn’t have given up Italian citizenship by naturalization in another country before the birth of their child. You may come into an exception if applying through a female relative, as Italian women couldn’t pass their citizenship before 1948. In that case, you have to apply through a judicial process under the 1948 Rule.
Get a head start with the paperwork
When it comes to easing your journey, getting a head start with paperwork takes you a long way. You have to provide a checklist of documents as a part of the second passport process. The most challenging aspect of paperwork is about the documents to be collected from your ancestor’s comune in Italy. You have to fly to Italy and trace them in the long-lost files. Dealing with the authorities can be equally daunting. The better option is to collaborate with citizenship professionals as they have the right local connections. Apart from the struggle of getting Italian documents, you also have to get translations and legalization of non-Italian documents. It makes sense to sort out these formalities before applying.
Wait for your appointment
The final step involves application at your local Italian consulate. While applying from the country of your residence is an advantage, the wait for your appointment can test your patience. You can expect it to take several months or even a year because consulates have long queues. Moreover, there is always a risk of delays if the authorities want you to provide additional documents. Experts recommend you double-check them to ensure no errors and omissions. You can also expedite the process by applying in Italy rather than wait for a year at your local consulate.
The descent route has good chances of success, but the process can get complicated if you go wrong with eligibility or paperwork. The best way to ease and speed your application is by having a seasoned expert showing the way. They can guide you from start to end and ensure you close the process without delays and hassles.